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A new theory proposes that the aging and lifespan of humans may have been affected by the millions of years during which dinosaurs dominated the Earth.
Although certain reptiles and amphibians do not exhibit noticeable signs of aging prior to their death, all mammals, such as humans, experience noticeable changes in their physical appearance as they age.
According to the “longevity bottleneck hypothesis,” there was a constant need for mammals to reproduce quickly during the time of dinosaurs.
According to a study published in the journal BioEssays, over the course of 100 million years, it is probable that genes associated with longevity, tissue regeneration, and DNA repair became inactive or were lost.
According to Joao Pedro de Magalhaes, a researcher from the University of Birmingham, although humans have a relatively long lifespan compared to other animals, there are certain reptiles and other creatures that age at a much slower rate and exhibit very few signs of senescence throughout their lives.
Dr. Magalhaes stated that the “longevity bottleneck hypothesis” could provide insight into the evolutionary factors that have influenced the aging process in mammals for millions of years.
An ancient skull of a dinosaur was discovered on the coast of England.
Research has indicated that certain primitive mammals inhabited the lowest level of the food chain and may have taken more than 100 million years during the era of dinosaurs to adapt and survive through quick reproduction.
According to Dr. Magalhaes, the lengthy period of evolutionary pressure has a significant effect on the aging process of humans.
Although certain animals possess impressive abilities for repairing and regenerating cells and tissues, these genetic traits were not essential for early mammals who were fortunate enough to not become prey for carnivorous dinosaurs like T. rex.
Dr. Magalhaes stated that despite having a diverse range of mammals such as humans, whales, and elephants that can grow large and have long lifespans, we are still limited by genetic factors from the Mesozoic era. Interestingly, we tend to age at a faster rate compared to many reptiles.
Despite currently being just a hypothesis, conducting further investigations on this topic could provide insight into the reason behind the higher occurrence of cancer in mammals compared to other species, according to the biologist.
The source is independent.co.uk.
